Medical suction apparatus



May14, 1946. J. TRAFFORD MEDICAL SUCTION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2 7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 14, l946@ l hJ. E. TRAFFORD 2,400,178

MEDICAL SUCTION lAPPARATUS Filednec. 27, '1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENLTQR XW ATTORNEY Patented May 14, 1946 UNITED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE MEDICAL SUCTION=` APPARATUS' J ames` E. Trafford, Chicago, Ill. Application December 27, 1943, SeriaiNo. 515,745

(Cl. 12S-.276)

3V Claims.

This inventionv relates to improvements in suction apparatus for medical use in withdrawing fluids from organs of the b'ody.

An object of my inventionis to provide improved suction apparatus for use in withdrawingA fluid from the body of a patient, embodying novel means for obtaining` a specimen of the fluid at any time without discontinuing the iow ofthe fluid or without disconnecting the apparatus from the patients body.

Another object of my invention isV to provide apparatus of the kind characterized having a simplied construction which is easily cleaned and sterilized.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims, or obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the pur-pose of this application I have elected to show herein certain forms and details of suction apparatus for medical use' representative ofil my invention; it is to` be understood, however, that the embodiment ofV my invention herein shown and described is for the purpose of illustration only, and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention, nor is it to be given an interpretation such as might have the effect of limiting the claims, short of" the true and most comprehensive scope' of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of medical apparatus embodying the preferred principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the vacuum tank; and

Fig. 3 is a side view of a fragmentary part of the apparatus, showing the means employed for suspending the liquid receiving receptacle from the tank.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates a suction or vacuum tank of convenient size and shape, made from metal, glass or other suitable material, and having an opening for the insertion of liquid at its upper side which is normally closed by a closing cap 2. Closing a large opening in the bottom of the tank is a bottom member 3 which is provided with a central opening 4. A washer 5 made preferably of rubber is interposed between the bottom member 3 and the tank for sealing purposes. An encircling frame 6 securely attached on the lower end of the tank is supported by vertical bands E' extending over the tank. Secured to theframe 6 as` by screws 'I are depending clamping bolts `8. The bolts 8 extend through openings in a clamping plate 9, and wing nuts III threaded on the said bolts 8 serve to rmly clamp l the said plate against the bottom member 3.

Extending through the central opening 3 in the bottom member 4` with its head resting on the inside surface ofthe said bottom member is an internally and externally threaded screw member II. Screwed in a threaded hole or depression in the head of the screw member Il is an upstanding screen supporting rod I2 which holds a cylindrically'shaped wire mesh screen I3', resting on the bottom member 3, in a centrally disposed position surrounding the central opening Il. The rod I2 extends through a cap on the screen and a wing nut on the rod prevents the dislocation of the said screen. An outlet tube I3 located inside the screen extends downwardly into an opening in the screw member I I,` and an outlet valve I4 screwed into the screw member serves to drain liquid from the tank as it is supplied thereto by the outlet tube.

Removably positioned beneath the tank is ,a liquid receiving receptacle I5.V Encircling the upper end ofthe receptacle I5 and supported by bands I6 extending downwardly under the bottom of the receptacle is a frame or encircling member I'I. Pivotally attached to the frame I'I` by screws is a combined handle and bracket member I8. The bracket part of the member I8 is detachably hooked on the clamping plate 9, thereby supporting the receptacle in a position beneaththe tank. The handle part of the member serves as a convenient means for carryingthe receptacle when it is detached from the tank. A cover member I 9 provided on the receptacle is provided with a centrall opening, and supported therein is a vent tube 20 for the escape of air when liquid drains into the receptacle from the tank through the outlet valve I4'. An inner concentric tube 2| is suitably supported in the vent tube in spaced relation thereto, and the liquid from the outlet valve I4 drains into the same.

The tank and the receptacle may be provided in the usual manner with suitable graduation marks or other means to indicate the water level or the amounts of liquid therein.

Screwed into a threaded inlet opening at the side of the tank I at a point above the water level is a tubular outlet extension 22a provided on a hollow valve casing 22. The valve casing 22 is provided with an inlet member 23 to which is connected a iiexible tube (not shown) ordivalve casing 22 is provided with a valve member 24 which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. A handle 25 provided on the valve member serves to move the latter to control the iiow of fluid entering the valve casing. A spring 26 confined between the detachable top of the casing and the valve member serves to maintain the latter in a properly seated'position at all times. The valve member is provided with a transverse bore 2'I, which, when the valve member is positioned so the bore is in communication with both the inlet member 23 and the outlet member 22a, will convey the fluid directly into the tank I. Detachably secured to the valve casing 22, and positioned beneath a bottom opening therein. is a specimen tube 28. The valve member is provided with an inlet passageway 29 and with an outlet passageway 30, the former being adapted to convey fluid from the inlet member 23 to the specimen tube, and the latter being adapted to convey fluid from the specimen tube (when the latter overflows) to the tank I. When the valve member 24 is turned to a position whereby the passageway 29 registers with the inlet member 23, the fluid being drained from a patients body will flow directly to the specimen tube and thereby permit a specimen to be readily secured for examination purposes. The valve member may be turned to an oil position Where no fluid is allowed to flow past the inlet member 23, or it can be adjusted so the :luid flows directly to the tank.

In practice the tank I is partially lled to thc proper level with water or the like. The valve member 24 is adjusted to a position whereby the fluid from the patients body iiows into the tank. The outlet valve I4 is adjusted to cause the discharge of liquid from the tank in quantities substantially proportionate to the inflow of the fluid from the patients body. The suction exerted upon the interior of the patients organ being drained should be such that no harmful efIects are produced, and in this connection it is important that the tank I be provided with the correct amount of liquid and that the outlet valve I4 be properly adjusted to allow the proper amount of liquid to be discharged from the tank in a given time.

'I'he bottom member 3 is provided with an outlet opening which is controlled by a valve 3|, thereby affording convenient means for quickly draining the tank I.

Suitably shaped members 32 connected to the bands 6 afford means for suspending the appaiatus from a suitable support.

What I claim is:

l.. In apparatus for withdrawing fluid from a which liquid is to be withdrawn, and

persons body, suction means, a valve casing having an inlet adapted to be connected to a persons body from which liquid is to be withdrawn, and an outlet adapted to be connected to the suction means, the said casing having a bore interposed between and in communication with the inlet and the outlet and also a channel leading from the bore to a second outlet, a specimentube detachably secured to the casing for receiving liquid passing from the second outlet, and a valve movably positioned in the bore having means for selectively directing the flow of the liquid entering the casing to either the first mentioned or second outlet.

2. In apparatus for withdrawing liquid from a persons body, a valve casing having an inlet adapted to be connected to a persons body from an outlet adapted to be connected to a suction means, the said casing having a channel leading from the inlet to a second outlet, a lspecimen tube detachably supported on the casing beneath and in communication with the second outlet, an air or liquid passageway leading from a point within the area defined by the top edge of the specimen tube to the rst mentioned outlet, and a valve in the casing having channel means therethrough which when the valve is positioned in a certain position the liquid entering through the inlet is directed to the first mentioned outlet and when the valve is positioned in another certain position the liquid entering the casing is directed to the channel, whereby the said liquid may flow directly to the second outlet and into the specimen tube.

3. In apparatus for withdrawing liquid from persons body, suction means, a valve casing having an inlet adapted to be connected to a persons body from which liquid is to be withdrawn and an outlet adapted to be connected to the suction means, the said casing having a channel leading from the inlet to a second outlet, a specimen tube detachably supported on the casing beneath the second outlet and adapted to receive liquid passing from the said second outlet, the said casing also having an air or liquid passageway communicating with the first mentioned outlet and with interior of the specimen tube, a valve in the casing adapted to direct liquid from the inlet to the first outlet when in a certain position, and when in another certain position to direct liquid entering the casing to the channel and thence to the specimen tube, the said valve being adapted to open the passageway through the casing when in the last mentioned position to permit the suction means to withdraw air or liquid from the specimen tube.

JAMES E. TRAFFORD. 

